Arrest Made For The Death Of 14-Year-OId Garinger High School Student

Update – 12/5/23

Police say on Tuesday, December 5, Myhijee Major turned himself into CMPD detectives for the death of a 14-year-old Garinger High school student.

Major, 19, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after being interviewed by detectives, according to CMPD.

Original Story – 12/4/23

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A community is in mourning after the murder of a 14-year-old Garinger High School student.

Someone shot and killed Johnie McClendon at his home in North Charlotte.

“It didn’t take long to register that it was a homicide,” says neighbor Alvin Jacobs Jr.

Jacobs saw the flashing lights and police tape but didn’t realize until later that he knew the teen killed on Keswick Avenue on Sunday night.

Jacobs had just spoke with 14-year-old Johnie McClendon and his brother at the bus stop on Friday morning.

“But the conversation was, you guys go to Garinger. You know, see you guys play basketball. You know, are you starting today, are you looking forward to the game?” Jacobs says.

Just two days later, McClendon would be found dead after being shot in the head inside his North Charlotte home.

Police haven’t named any suspects.

“When I found out it that it was a kid who was 14 years old, it hit different because my son was 15 when he was murdered,” says local activist Will Adams.

Adams stopped by to leave his condolences with the family on Monday.

“But then when I talked to the father, and the father can’t shake my hand because he has blood on his hands from, you know was in there cleaning his son’s blood up, you know it’s just, something different,” Adams says.

Adams says he doesn’t understand the gun violence plaguing the community.

The shooting on Keswick came just a little over an hour after another shooting, less than a mile away on Olando Street.

WCCB Charlotte asked CMPD if there’s any connection, but haven’t gotten a response.

Back on Keswick, Jacobs says he gifted McClendon a pair of basketball shoes on Friday.

“And it wasn’t a charity move, right? It wasn’t like, hey, kid, you know, let me give you something. It was no, this is what I’m supposed to do,” Jacobs says.

He calls Sunday night’s tragedy a failure in the community.

“It’s always been violence, there will always be violence, but we’re supposed to protect our children. We’re supposed to safeguard our youth. They’re supposed to get an opportunity to grow up,” Jacobs says.